Unit MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
- Course
- Chemistry and technology of drugs
- Study-unit Code
- 65002506
- Location
- PERUGIA
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Mariangela Morlando
- Teachers
-
- Mariangela Morlando
- Hours
- 48 ore - Mariangela Morlando
- CFU
- 6
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2021
- Offered
- 2022/23
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Discipline biologiche e farmacologiche
- Academic discipline
- BIO/11
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- Biological macromolecules: DNA, RNA and proteins. Nucleic acids: expression and use of the information contained therein.
The non coding RNAs and uses in basic research and biomedicine
Study of diseases at molecular level and therapeutic approaches. Methods for the study of gene expression. Recombinant DNA technology and its use in biomedicine and biotechnologies.
Genome editing technologies (CRISPR-Cas) and generation of cellular and animal model systems. - Reference texts
- Biologia Molecolare Amaldi, Benedetti, Pesole, Plevani - tird edition 2018
Biologia molecolare del gene Watson, Baker, Bell, Gann, Levine, Losick - 2022
For a deepen study of methodologies:
Biotecnologie Molecolari Brown - second edition 2017
Teaching material provided by the Professor through the Unistudium IT platform - Educational objectives
- The course aims to provide the basic knowledge of the structural organization of the genes and of molecular mechanisms regulating transcription and post-transcriptional processes both in physiological and pathological conditions. Moreover, the course offers basic knowledge of experimental methodologies used in molecular biology highlighting the aspects related to the genetic engineering, the biotechnologies
- Prerequisites
- Basic knowledge of Biochemistry and Biology
- Teaching methods
- Lectures will be made by using slides and movies.
- Other information
- Complementary teaching activity: upon request, a tutorial activity during the course will be provided in order to support the preparation of the final exam. It is possible to arrange an appointment with the Professor via email.
- Learning verification modality
- It consists of a 30 minutes oral exam aimed to assess the knowledge acquired and the ability to understand the topics of the course; also the communication skills and the use of proper scientific language will be assessed.
During the course the students have the possibility to perform two written tests made of both multiple-choice and open questions. These tests offer to each student the opportunity to challenge the level of its own knowledge about the topics of the course and to focus the study on specific critical issues. For the students passing the written tests, the final score will consider both written and oral exams
During the course the students have the possibility to perform two written tests made of both multiple-choice and open questions. These tests offer to each student the opportunity to challenge the level of its own knowledge about the topics of the course and to focus the study on specific critical issues. For the students passing the written tests, the final score will consider both written and oral exams.
In case the student intends to anticipate the exam in a year before the one scheduled in the study plan, it is recommended to attend the course and take the exam in the first useful session after the end of the course, therefore, respecting the teaching plan of the term.
To have information on support services for students with disabilities and / or SLD, visit the page http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa - Extended program
- - Hints of Molecular Biology history and of the recognition of DNA as the macromolecule carrying the genetic information. Structure of nucleic acid and proteins. The central dogma of molecular Biology. Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells.
- The double helix structure of DNA (A, B, Z). DNA melting and annealing. Iperchromic effect. Chromosomes: chromatin, nucleosomes, histones, genome organization. Definition of gene. Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic genomes.
- Meiosis and Mitosis. DNA replication, cell cycle and its control. Telomeres-senescence, aging and cancer.
-Molecular approaches for the development of anticancer therapies. An interesting target: P53. The gene therapy.
- RNA structure and function: coding and non coding RNAs
- Transcription in Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic cells. Machineries and mechanisms of transcription
- Basic mechanism of regulation of transcription in prokaryotes: Lactose and Tryptophan operons.
- Regulation of transcription in eukaryotes. Histone modifications and chromatin remodelling. Euchromatin e heterochromatin. Trascription factors, activators and co-repressors; enhancers
- Post-transcriptional processes: mRNA splicing and alternative splicing; mRNA capping and polyadenylation. Pathologies linked to defective splicing process and potential therapeutic approaches. Histone mRNA maturation.
- Genetic code and mechanisms of translation in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Amminoacil-tRNA synthetase. Translation regulation. Mode of action of antibiotics.
- Post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes: regulation of RNA stability and NMD; Iron metabolism: Post-transcriptional regulation of Ferritin e la Transferrin genes; regulatory non coding RNAs: microRNAs (biogenesis and function) and long non coding RNAs. RNA interference and its application in basic research and biomedicine. Pathologies linked to altered regulation of gene expression at post-transcriptional level. RNA molecules as therapeutic agents and targets.
Molecular Biology techniques:
- Electrophoresis of nucleic acids and proteins
- Study of gene expression: Northern blot and Western Blot. Methods for nuclei acids labelling (radioactive and non radioactive). RT-PCR and quantitative RT-PCR.
- Recombinant DNA technology and molecular cloning: PCR, restriction enzymes, vectors for cloning, ligase. Viral vectors for gene therapy. Bacteria transformation. Applications: screening by PCR; generation of genetically modified organisms; biomedicine and gene therapy.
- Fusion proteins
“Omic” methods for the genome and gene expression studies.
- Genome editing approaches and generation of cellular and model systems.